St Helier Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in St Helier poster

Every year in St Helier, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in St Helier?

The Bonfire Night is an annual event that has been adopted as an incredible event over the years.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few easy steps.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament in the UK.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king while he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

The other conspirators were taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a public statement that the conspirators were caught and punished.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus being on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked very similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks being shared with the community.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will get to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. You are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People in costumes use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

It is clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing going on.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are commonly associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for the 5th of November.

Some families share their soups with friends and family members.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in different costumes.

It is quite interesting that this is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great chance for most people to show off their winter clothes.

Something to keep in mind is the fact that a winter knit with a classical touch is the right way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

Conclusion

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and it continues every year.

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some amazing foods.

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for a long time to come.

St Helier Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: St Helier, London, Greater London, England, SM5 1BZ, United Kingdom

Organiser: St Helier Bonfire Night